Kenya: Floods – Mar 2018

Heavy rain has been affecting the central, the south-west and south-east areas of the country, including the capital Nairobi, since the beginning of the month, causing floods, flash floods and casualties. According to media, as of 20 March, the death toll has reached at least 15 people in the provinces of Central, Nyanza and Eastern. They also reported that around 1 000 people were evacuated in the counties of Makueni (Eastern province), Kilifi and Tana (Coast province). Over the next 24 hours, more heavy rain with local thunderstorms is forecast for the affected areas. (ECHO, 20 Mar 2018)

The March–May long rains began atypically early countrywide and with significantly above-average amounts, upwards of 145 percent of the long-term averages. The rains are welcomed after the extended dry season in many eastern areas of the country, improving water availability, but have also led to flooding. In Kajiado, Makueni, and Kilifi, flooding destroyed property, displaced households, and caused approximately five deaths, mostly children. (FEWS NET, 22 Mar 2018)

Floods have displaced more than 211,000 people and reportedly killed 72 people and injured 33 across Kenya since March 2018. The most affected counties are Turkana, Tana River, Garissa, Isiolo, Kisumu, Taita, Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, West Pokot, Samburu and Narok, according to the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS). The floods have disrupted livelihoods, with at least 8,450 acres of farmland submerged in water and more than 6,000 livestock killed, destroyed houses and damaged infrastructure, such as roads and health facilities (OCHA, 25 Apr 2018.)

While parts of the country were still experiencing the impacts of drought, the torrential rains that commenced in March 2018 have further resulted in erosion of livelihoods. The rainfall pattern has changed this year affecting at least 29 counties and it has been described as a mini El Nino phenomenon by the local meteorological department. According to preliminary reports, the rains have caused flooding that has left 211,155 people displaced, 72 dead and 33 injured. These numbers are likely to increase as the heavy rains are expected to continue until July. The flood impacts include destruction of crops with farms reported as submerged, destruction of irrigation systems, disruption of transport for market access, interruption of road infrastructure, and destruction of key installations including health care and water sanitation infrastructure. (IFRC, 1 May 2018)

As of 7 May, at least 311,164 had been displaced by floods across Kenya, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). The death toll has risen to at least 132 people, and a further 33 people have been injured (OCHA, 7 May 2018.)